Outdoors

A number of years, ago I did a grim deer-hunting story on a man that went into the woods and didn’t come out alive. I got a call from a game warden about a guy that left his house one afternoon to go deer hunting at a local club he belonged to that was not far from his house in Jasper. The man packed up his gear and told his wife he would be home shortly after dark. When he didn’t return late that evening, his wife called the sheriff’s department, which in turn called a game warden.

I’ve spent the better part of the past couple of weeks fishing on Sabine Lake. During that time, we’ve caught everything but the kitchen sink on a variety of lures from Wedgetail Mullets to Bayou Chubs made by Egret Baits. Without a doubt, the most consistent action has been chasing the birds. That’s where lots of anglers are taking specks, reds and some of the biggest sand trout I’ve ever seen.

As one would suspect, the duck season opening weekend was a good one. Those that hunted spots with water and or food made quick work of limits. By far, teal were the most numerous birds that showed up on the stringers. There were also shovelars, pintail and widgeon also in fair numbers. Since the opening weekend, the last cool front pushed some gadwall and mallards into the area.

Certainly we are on the edge of “D” day as this article is published, the D indicating the opening of both deer and duck seasons. Much time and expense has already been put forth just getting ready for these annual events. On the Friday before the deer season opener, our local major highways are packed to the gills with vehicles either carrying ATVs or pulling trailers with ATVs aboard. The deer hunters, being confident folks, will also be taking plenty of. The caravan reminds one of mass evacuation that we have witnessed before, except on a smaller scale.

The first couple of weeks of November are two of the best you’ll experience on the right side of Texas. Deer and duck seasons are open, and fishing on Sabine Lake for trout and reds under the birds is red hot.

The entire month of November is prime time deer hunting in the Pineywoods. There is one reason why – bucks are in the rut and running does all over the place night and day. It’s not easy to get the jump on a mature buck, unless you hunt the rut.

Just recently, I was kayaking on B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir near Jasper and couldn’t help but notice the number of tent and RV campers in the adjacent Martin Dies Jr. State Park. It was a cool Saturday morning and aside from folks cooking breakfast around their campsites, I saw hikers, bikers and lots of people on the water paddling rental canoes.

The central zone dove season is already closed until Dec. 23 and the south zone is closing Oct. 30 until Dec. 23, but with duck, goose, and deer seasons opening Nov. 5, hunters are all smiles. And saltwater fishing on the inland lakes and bays could hardly be better. The speckled trout, redfish, croaker, sand trout and flounder are showing up in many coolers.

During the times of the year where the prevailing winds are southeast with some due south and southwest thrown in, the marshes hold plenty of water. The past couple years the salt content, even back in the marshes, has been higher than normal. Many species of saltwater fish have been caught by anglers who were fishing for up into the rivers. Both the Neches River and the Sabine River have yielded some excellent catches of speckled trout, redfish, flounder, croaker and sand trout.

With the great October fishing going on, it is a good idea not to overlook preparing for he upcoming duck, goose, quail, pheasant, turkey and general deer season. For one reason or the other, some folks including this writer will continue to procrastinate concerning preparing for hunting. There are a good number of things that should be taken care of before much more time slips away.

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